Co-op has announced it will offer rail engineering apprenticeships to prisoners to tackle a skills shortage in the UK market and reduce reoffending rates.

The programme will be funded through the Co-op Levy Share, which brings together funds from Co-op and other employers who can put up to 50 per cent of their annual unspent apprenticeship levy funds towards targeted apprenticeships aimed at underrepresented groups.

The move will allow prisoners to complete full apprenticeships and their end-point assessments before release.

Co-op said it will give them the chance to earn a Level 2 qualification in Rail Engineering Operatives and move straight into employment and directly into track engineering roles on release.

According to prison data, if someone leaving prison is employed within six weeks of release their likelihood of reoffending is cut by half.

The apprenticeships, which will be offered from August in collaboration with City &Guilds Foundation, will take place at the Centre of Excellence skills hub at HMP Highpoint.

The programme was created in response to Co-op members' requests at its AGM to focus on reducing re-offending and supporting rehabilitation.

The retailer quoted research from The Times Crime and Justice Commission which found that reoffending rates are currently costing the UK economy over £21 billion each year.

The Co-op said that currently around 80 per cent of offending is carried out by those who have already committed crimes.

There are over 87,000 people in custody across England and Wales and this places “immense pressure” on frontline services as the average annual cost per prisoner exceeds £51,000.

“Our partnership with City & Guilds Foundation demonstrates the transformative power of targeted training, employment, and genuine opportunity,” said Claire Costello, chief people and inclusion officer at the Co-op. “It is great that through our levy initiative we can invest in people and equip them with skills that are in high demand, not just reducing reoffending but also helping to tackle critical skills shortages in the UK rail sector, strengthening the fabric of society.”

Each apprenticeship represents a £12,000 investment, underscoring a strong commitment to high-quality training and ongoing support.

Since its conception in 2021, the Co-op Levy Share has seen £38.2 million in pledges and has funded over 3,500 apprentices from diverse backgrounds.

Last year, the Co-op used the scheme to invest in more than 600 early years apprenticeships, pledging to raise £5 million towards the early childhood fund over the next five years.

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